Moldova said Monday it would recall its ambassador to Russia for consultations after an unidentified drone crashed and exploded near its border with Ukraine.
The drone crashed into a tree line near the southern village of Crocmaz across the border from Ukraine’s Odesa region on Sunday afternoon. Police, which did not report any injuries, said debris was scattered over a wide area and damaged several nearby homes.
The debris contained components matching guided missile technology, Moldovan officials said, marking the first time an aircraft of this type was detected on Moldovan territory since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Chisinau said it summoned its ambassador in Russia back home for consultations, calling the incident a “grave violation of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” that risks the safety of its citizens.
“Moldova condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the security of our country and the broader region,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
